Well reamer



J e 22,1937. A QATLAND 2,084,430

WELL REAMER Filed July 22, 1935 ALF-2E0 C. CATLANO INVENTOE A TTOENEY PER Patented June 22, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,084,430 WELL REAMER since 0. Catland, Alhambra, Calif assignor to Globe Oil T0015 Company, Los Nietos, Calif, a corporation of California Application July 22, 1935, Serial No. 32,578

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a well drilling tool and relates more particularly to a well reamer. A general object of the present invention is to provide a practical well reamer embodying a novel, particularly effective means for mounting or supporting the cutters. 3

Onetype of .well reamer employed in the rotary method of well drilling embodies spaced cutters rotatable on pins or like supports. 'It is desirable to replace the cutters, their supporting pins and other parts of the mountings when they become worn and it is sometimes desirable to adjust the reamer to change its effective cutting diameter or gauge. Mountings have been introduced for removably supporting the cutters and for mounting cutters of different diameters on the reamer body to change the eifective diameter of the reamer. Mountings of the character just mentioned require the provision of cutters of various sizes in order to vary the effective or reaming diameter of the reamer and as the cutters are expensive this manner of adjusting the reamer is very costly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a well reamer embodying means for mounting the original or regular cutters at difierent distances from the axis of the shank whereby the reamer may be adjusted or changed to properly ream well bores of different diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel improved means for supporting or mounting the rotatable cutter of a Well reamer that is such that the parts of the mounting cannot work loose and cause wearing of the reamer body or shank. In the cutter mounting of the present invention the parts cannot work loose and thereunit.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a reamer of the character mentioned in which the pin supporting blocks are fitted in sockets in the shank so that they are rigid and positively immovable therein in all directions except radially outwardly and. are effectively and dependably held against such outward movement, there being little or no tendency for the blocks to move radially outwardly when the tool is in operation or at any other time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reamer of the character mentioned embodying simple and particularly effective means for removably locking the blocks in the sockets of the shank so that they cannot work loose during operation of the tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reamer that is inexpensive of manufacture and that is easy to repair and adjust with simple readily available tools.

The various objects and features of my invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the reamer provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom elevation of the reamer. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 1 with the reamerin a different rotative position, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line .5--5 on Fig. 2.

The well reamer of the present invention includes, generally, a body or shank Ill, removable cutter assemblies H on the shank I0 and means l2 for looking or retaining the assemblies H in position.

The body or shank I0 is an elongate member adapted to be connected in a string of drilling tools. 1 Means are provided at the opposite ends of the shank H] for facilitating its connection in the string. In the particular form of the invention shown in the drawing this connecting means includes a tapered screw threaded pin i3 on the upper end of the shank l0 and a tapered screw threaded socket M in the lower end of the shank. The intermediate portion l5 of the shank I0 is shaped and proportioned to carry the cutter assemblies I I. In the typical form of the invention disclosed in the drawing there are three cutter assemblies II and the shank portion I5 is substantially triangular in transverse cross section; The upper and lower ends it of the portion l5 are tapered or rounded off and the apices of the triangular portion i5 are preferably rounded as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing. A longitudinal openingor recess i1 is provided in each apex part of the portion l5 to receive a cutter; 1

The recesses ll have suitable'rounded or conlower Walls I8. Flat walled grooves or notches I9 are provided in the upper and lower walls I8 of the recesses II. In accordance with the in- Vention cylindrical bores or sockets 20 are provided in the shank portion I5 above and below therecesses II. In practice the bores or sockets 20 maybe located so that they join or communicate with the notches I9 as clearly illustrated in Fig. -1. The sockets 20 are radial relative to 10 the central longitudinal axis of the shank Ill and have flat substantially vertical inner walls 2 I. A central longitudinal fluid passage Pextends longitudinally through the shank ID from one end to the other to conduct the circulation fluid employed in the rotary method of well drilling.

The cutter assemblies I I are such that they may be individually assembled on and removed from the shank I0 as units. The cutter assemblies II are alike or identicaheach assembly ineluding a rotatable cutter 22, a pin 23 rotatably carrying the cutter 22 and blocks 24 mounting or supporting the opposite end portions of the pin 23. The cutters 22 are disposed in the recesses H to project from the mouths or outer sides 25 of therecesses and contact or ream the wall of the well bore. The cutters 22 -are-substantially cylindrical and may have tapered or downwardly diminishing lower portions. The upper and lower ends of the cutters 22 are fiat and normal. Suitable cutting parts or teeth 25 are provided on thecutters 22. The teeth of the cutters 22 may be related so "that they do not track in their engagement with the earth formation. The teeth 25 of one cutter22 may be straight and axial, the teeth 25 of another cutter 22 may be spiralled in a righthand direction, while the teeth 25'of the third cutter may be spiralled in a left- .hand direction. I p

The pins 23 are simple elongate cylindrical members which may directly rotatably carry the cutters 22. The pins 23are preferably hardened to be wear resistant and long wearing. In the assembled tool-'the'pins'23 rotatably fit the openings 26 in the cutters '22 and project beyond the upper and lower endsof the cutters. Extensions ZI'are provided on the lower ends of the pins 23 and have fiat substantially vertical inner surfaces28. v

The blocks 24 are provided to carry or receive the opposite end portions of the cutter carrying pins 23. lnfiaceordance with the invention the blocks 24 are substantially cylindrical members shaped and proportioned to accurately fit the sockets 20. The cylindrical surfaces or peripheries of the blocks 24 bear'on the cylindrical walls of the socket-s20 while the inner ends of, the blocks are flat'and vertical to evenly bear on the inner walls 2I of the sockets. The outer ends or surfaces of the blocks 24 maybe flush with the surfaces-of the apices of the shank portion I5. 'Each block 24 has a'flat tangential surface 30 facing inwardly relative to'a recess "IT to form the bottom 'or inner wall-of the adjacent notch I9. 7

Transverse or diametric cylindrical openings 3| are provided in the blocks 24 to receive the end portions of the pins 23. In the particular form of the-invention;illustrated in the drawing the openings-3l are vertical when the blocks 24 32 are provided in the openings 3I of the lower blocks. The stops 32 are welded or otherwise fixed to the-blocks 24 and "have flat faces for cooperating with thesurfaces-28 of the'pins to prevent-rotation of the pins. Thrust washers are in their proper assembled positions. Stops,

33 are arranged on the pins 23 and are received in the notches IS. The washers 33 are fiat sided to be non-rotatable in the fiat walled notches I9. The thrust washers 33 are provided tobear on the tangential surfaces 30 of the blocks v24 to space the ends of the cutters 22 from theupper and lower walls I8 of the recesses II.

When the cutter assemblies II are properly positioned in their final locations on the shank III the distance from the longitudinal axis of the openings 3I to the inner walls 2I of the sockets determines the distance the axes of rotation of the cutters 22 are spaced from the longitudinal axis of the shank I0. adjusted to have a larger or smaller effective diameter by providing it with the blocks 24 hav- 7 ing openings 3I spaced greater or lesser distances from the inner ends of the blocksassuming that the same cutters or cutters of the same diameter are to be used. In arranging a cutter assembly II o'n'the shank II] the cutter 22 and the washers 33 are first assembled on the pin 23 and the Thus the reamer may be blocks 24 are then positioned on the oppositeend portions of the pin. This assembly of the pin 23, the cutter 22,-the washers 33 and the blocks 24 is then moved radiallyinwardly relative tothe shank III 'toenter the blocks 24 inthe bores or sockets 20. The inward movementof theassembly is then continued'until the'inner ends of the blocks 24 engage the inner walls 2I of the sockets 20 which engagement definitely positions the blocks in the sockets. The cutter assembly II is then in operative position to be removably-locked and held in place by the means I2.

The means I2 for removably looking or securing the assemblies I I in position includes or provides openings 35 which partially intersect the sockets -20. The openings 35 enter the ends I6 of the shank portion I5 and preferably extend to the end walls I8 of the recesses 11. In practice there may be two vertical openings 35 partially intersecting each socket 20 at substantially diametrically opposite points. In'accordance with the invention the openings 35 are tapered --inwardly from the ends I6 oi the shank portion-I5.

The lock means includes tapered lock pins 35 inserted or driven in the openings -35.- The lock pins '36 are adapted to cooperate with suitably shaped and tapered openings-or notches-31 'in the blocks 24. notches 3-1 are preferably partiallyout of -alignment or register with the-openings 35 when the blocks are-in position so th'at forces transmitted from the shank I0 through the lock pins-35 urge-or;tendto urgethe blocks 24 inwardly, thus preventing loosening of the blocks.

Meansare provided for tightly forcing the tapered lock pins 35 -in the openings 35 and for preventing loss and displacement of the pins.

Screws -38 are threaded in the outer end portions of the openings 35 and are adapted to bear against-the outer ends of the lock pins36. 'The screws 38 may be employed to tightly forc'e the tapered lock pins 36 to positions where they From the above detailed description of the invention it will be noted that the cutter assemblies l l are easily and quickly arranged in place on the shank I0 and firmly and dependably secured in position by the means l2. As the assemblies II are assembled on the shank H] by moving them radially inwardly to locate the blocks 24 in the sockets 2B, the blocks 24 and the other parts of the assemblies are retained against movement in all directions except a radially outward direction. The fit of the blocks 24 in the sockets 2t is such that the blocks cannot move laterally or longitudinally relative to the shank H). The tapered lock pins 36 securely and dependably hold the blocks 24 against outward shifting in the sockets 20 and thus positively hold the blocks against displacement. As described above, the tapered lock pins 36 urged inwardly by the screws 38 maintain an inward pressure on the blocks 24 so that play or looseness cannot develop between the blocks and the walls of the sockets 20. Accordingly, the mountings for the cutters 22 do not work loose or develop play to cause Wearing of the shank l0 and wearing of the other parts of the mountings.

The cutters 22 rotatably mounted as described are dependably and effectively rotatably supported in their operative positions. The nonrotatable thrust washers 33 dependably space the opposite ends of the cutters from the end walls iii of the recesses. The cutter assemblies l I may be easily removed from the shank lil for the repair or replacement of parts by first removing the cotter keys 40 and then removing the screws 38. Following the removal of the screws 38 the pins 36 may be driven from their openings 35 whereupon the assemblies ll may be disengaged from the shank by moving them radially outwardly relative to the shank. As described above, the reamer may be adjusted to change its effective diameter or gauge by replacing the blocks 24 with similar blocks having openings 3| spaced difierent distances from the inner ends of the blocks. This replacement of the blocks 24 by blocks having openings 3| at different distances from their inner ends mounts or positions thecutters 22 to rotate about axes spaced different distances from the central longitudinal axis of the reamer, and, therefore, changes the efiective diameter or gauge of the reamer. The cutter assemblies of the reamer may be easily and quickly mounted on the shank and removed from the shank with simple common tools.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a well reamer, a shank having a substantially radial bore, a cutter, and means for mounting the cutter including a pin supporting the cutter, and a block fitting said bore and carrying the pin, the bore having a wall cooperating with the block to prevent movement of the block in both directions axially of the shank.

2. In a well reamer, a shank having a substantially radial cylindrical bore, a rotatable cutter, and means for mounting the cutter including a pin carrying the cutter, and a block fitting said bore and supporting an end of the pin.

3. In a well reamer, a shank having spaced cylindrical bores, a cutter, and means for mounting the cutter including a pin carrying the cutter, and blocks fitting the bores and supporting the opposite end portions of the pin.

4. In a well reamer, a shank having spaced radial cylindrical bores, a cutter, and means for mounting the cutter including a pin carrying the cutter, and cylindrical blocks carrying the oppo site end portions of the pin and introduced in the bores from their outer ends.

5. In a well reamer, a shank having a substantially radial cylindrical bore, a cutter, and means for mounting the cutter including a pin supporting the cutter, a substantially cylindrical block introduced radially into the outer end of the bore to bear on the inner wall of the bore and carrying an end of the pin, and means removablylocking the block in the bore. 7

6. In a well reamer, a shank having spaced substantially radial cylindrical bores, a cutter assembly comprising a rotatable cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin adapted to be introduced into the bores from their outer. ends to removably mount the pin on the shank, and means removably retaining the blocks in the bores.

7. A well reamer including a shank having spaced cylindrical bores whose longitudinal axes are 7 transverse of the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a cutter assembly comprising a cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and substantially cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin passed inwardly into the bores to mount the pin on the shank, the cooperation between the blocks and the walls of the bores holding the blocks against movement in all directions except movement outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank and rotary movement, and releasable means holding the blocks against such outward movement and rotary movement.

8. A well reamer including a shank having a cyhndrical socket in its exterior, the axis of the socket being substantially transverse of the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and means removably mounting the pin on the shank including a substantially cylindrical block on an end portion of the pin adapted to be passed inwardly into the socket, the cooperation between the block and the walls of the socket holding the block against movement in all directions except outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank and rotary movement, and means for holding the block against such outward movement and rotary movement.

9. A well reamer including a shank having a cylindrical socket in its exterior, the axis of the socket being substantially transverse of the longitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and means removably mounting the pin on the shank including a block on, an end portion of the pin adapted to be passed inwardly into the socket, the cooperation between the block and the pin holding the block against turning about its axis and the cooperation of the block and the walls of the socket holding the block against movement in all directions except outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a tapered lock pin arranged in an opening in the shank and cooperating with the block to hold the block against outward movement.

10. A well reamer including a shank having.

spaced cylindrical bores whose longitudinal axes" a pin carrying the cutter, and cylindrical blocks on theopposite end portions of the pin adapted to be passed inwardly into the bores to mount the pin on the shank, and releasable means for holding the blocks against outward movement in the bores, the releasable means comprising tapered lock pins arranged in openings in the shank and cooperating with the blocks, and screws in said openings for urging the tapered lock pins inwardly.

11. A well reamer including a shank having spaced cylindrical, bores whose longitudinal axes are transverse of the longitudinal axis of the shank, and a cutter assembly comprising a cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and substantially cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin adapted to be passed inwardly into the bores to mount the pin on the shank, the cooperation between the blocks and the pin holding the blocks against turning about their axes, the walls of the bores holding the blocks against movement in all directions except outwardly relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shank, there being openings in the shank communicating with the bores and notches in the blocks, and tapered pins in said openings cooperating with the notches to urge the blocks inwardly and hold the blocks against outward movement.

12. A well reamer including a shank having a cylindrical socket in its exterior, the axis of the socket being substantially transverse of the iongitudinal axis of the shank, a cutter, a pin carrying the cutter, and means removably mounting the pin on the shank including a cylindrical block on an end portion of the pin adapted to be passed inwardly into the socket, means on the block cooperating with the pin to hold the pin against rotation, and means for holding the block against outward movement in the socket.

13. A well reamer including a shank having an external recess and substantially radial cylindrical sockets at the opposite ends of the recess, a cutter assembly comprising a pin, a cutter on the pin, and removable cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin inserted radially in the sockets to mount the pin on the shank in a position where the cutter is in operative .position in the recess, and means for holding the blocks in the sockets.

14. A well reamer including a shank having an external recess and substantially radial cylindrical sockets at the opposite ends of the recess, a cutter assembly comprising a pin, a cutter on the pin, washers on the pin at the opposite ends of the cutter, and cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin inserted radially in the sockets to mount the pin where the cutter is in operative position in the recess and the washers are adapted to engage the end walls of the recess, and means for retaining the blocks in the sockets. 15. A well reamer including a shank having an external recess and cylindrical sockets at the op-= posite ends of the recess, a cutter-assembly comprising a pin, a cutter on the pin, and cylindrical blocks on the opposite end portions of the pin inserted radially in the sockets to mount the pin on the shank in a position where'the cutter is in operative position in the recess, one of the blocks having a stop for preventing rotation of the pin, and means for holding the blocks in the sockets.

16. A well reamer including, a shank having to mount the pin on the shank, the cooperation between the blocks and the pin holding the blocks against turning about theirraxes, the bores having walls engaging the blocks to hold them against all other movement except outward movement relativeto the longitudinal axis of the shank, and

releasable means for holding the blocks against outward movement, the releasable means comprising lock pins arranged in openings in the shank and cooperating with the blocks.

ALFRED C. CATLAND. 

